80 FR 37616 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 126 (July 1, 2015)

Page Range		37616-37617
FR Document		2015-16234

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Water Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0988.12, OMB Control No. 2040-0049) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2015. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37616-37617]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16234]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0465; FRL-9930-00-OW]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Water 
Quality Standards Regulation (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Water Quality 
Standards Regulation (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 0988.12, OMB Control No. 
2040-0049) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through December 31, 2015. An Agency may not conduct or 
sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2011-0465, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tangela Cooper, Office of Water, 
Office of Science and Technology, Standards and Health Protection 
Division, (4305T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0369; fax 
number: 202-566-0409; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. EPA 
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. 
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and 
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: Water quality standards are provisions of state,\1\ 
tribal, and federal law that consist of designated uses for waters of 
the United States, water quality criteria to protect the designated 
uses, and an antidegradation policy. Section 303(c) of the Clean Water 
Act requires states and authorized tribes to establish water quality 
standards, and to review and, if appropriate, revise their water 
quality standards once every three years. The Act also requires EPA to 
review and either approve or disapprove the new or revised standards, 
and to promulgate replacement federal standards if necessary. Section 
118(c)(2) of the Act specifies additional water quality standards 
requirements for waters of the Great Lakes system.
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    \1\ The Clean Water Act defines the term ``state'' to mean the 
50 states, the District of Columbia, and specific territories 
including Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
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    The Water Quality Standards regulation (40 CFR part 131 and 
portions of part 132) governs national implementation of the water 
quality standards program. The regulation describes requirements and 
procedures for states and authorized tribes to develop, review, and 
revise their water quality standards, and EPA procedures for reviewing 
and approving the water quality standards. The regulation requires the 
development and submission of information to EPA, including:

--The minimum elements in water quality standards that each state or 
tribe must submit to EPA for review, including any new or revised water

[[Page 37617]]

quality standards resulting from the jurisdiction's triennial review 
(40 CFR 131.6 and 131.20). The elements include use designations for 
specific water bodies; methods used and analyses conducted to support 
water quality standards revisions; supporting analysis for use 
attainability analyses; water quality criteria sufficient to protect 
the designated uses; methodologies for site-specific criteria 
development; an antidegradation policy; certification by the 
jurisdiction's Attorney General or other appropriate legal authority 
that the water quality standards were duly adopted pursuant to state or 
tribal law; information that will aid EPA in determining the adequacy 
of the scientific basis for the standards; and information on general 
policies that may affect the implementation of the standards.
--Information that an Indian tribe must submit to EPA in order to 
determine whether a tribe is qualified to administer the water quality 
standards program (40 CFR 131.8).
--Information a state or tribe must submit if it chooses to exercise a 
dispute resolution mechanism for disputes between states and tribes 
over water quality standards on common water bodies (40 CFR 131.7).
--Information related to public participation requirements during state 
and tribal review and revision of water quality standards (40 CFR 
131.20). States and tribes must hold public hearings as part of their 
triennial reviews, and make any proposed standards and supporting 
analyses available to the public before the hearing.

    The regulation establishes specific additional requirements for 
water quality standards and their implementation in the waters of the 
Great Lakes system, contained in the Water Quality Guidance for the 
Great Lakes System (40 CFR part 132). This portion of the regulation 
includes the following requirements for information collection: 
Bioassay tests to support the development of water quality criteria; 
studies to identify and provide information on antidegradation control 
measures that will guard against the reduction of water quality in the 
Great Lakes system; and information collection and record keeping 
activities associated with analyses and reporting to request regulatory 
relief from Guidance requirements. The Guidance includes additional 
information collections that are addressed in separate Information 
Collection Requests for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System program.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: The Water Quality Standards 
regulation requires reporting at least once every three years from 96 
jurisdictions: 56 states and territories, and Indian tribes with EPA-
approved standards (40 tribes as of May 2015). The respondents affected 
by this collection activity are in North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) code 92411 ``Administration of Air and 
Water Resources and Solid Waste Management Programs,'' formerly SIC 
code #9511. Additionally water dischargers subject to certain 
requirements related to the WQS in the Great Lakes System include 
dischargers in the following NAICS codes: Mining (except oil and gas) 
(212), Food manufacturing (311), Paper manufacturing (322), Chemical 
manufacturing (325), Petroleum refineries (32411), Primary metal 
manufacturing (331), Fabricated metal product manufacturing (332), 
Machinery manufacturing (333), Computer and electronic product 
manufacturing (334), Electrical equipment, appliance, and component 
manufacturing (335), Transportation equipment manufacturing (336), 
Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution (2211), and 
Sewage treatment facilities (22132).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of potential respondents: 96 jurisdictions plus 
2,323 Great Lakes dischargers.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 286,981 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $13,359,089 (per year). There are no 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 10,000 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects an increase in the estimated 
number of respondents to reflect EPA's approval of water quality 
standards for four additional tribes. These estimates could change 
further if, for example, EPA approves water quality standards for 
additional tribes, or if there are changes in the burden related to 
expected NPDES permit activities in the Great Lakes basin covered by 
the ICR.

    Dated: June 24, 2015.
Elizabeth Southerland,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2015-16234 Filed 6-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

37616 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices

of the public wishing to provide information collection request (ICR), functions of the Agency, including
comment should contact the DFO ‘‘Water Quality Standards Regulation whether the information will have
directly. (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 0988.12, OMB practical utility; (ii) evaluate the
Oral Statements: In general, Control No. 2040–0049) to the Office of accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the
individuals or groups requesting an oral Management and Budget (OMB) for burden of the proposed collection of
presentation on a public teleconference review and approval in accordance with information, including the validity of
will be limited to three minutes per the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. the methodology and assumptions used;
speaker. Interested parties wishing to 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and
provide comments should contact Dr. soliciting public comments on specific clarity of the information to be
Diana Wong, DFO (preferably via email), aspects of the proposed information collected; and (iv) minimize the burden
at the contact information noted above, collection as described below. This is a of the collection of information on those
by August 14, 2015 to be placed on the proposed extension of the ICR, which is who are to respond, including through
list of public speakers for the currently approved through December the use of appropriate automated
teleconference. Written Statements: 31, 2015. An Agency may not conduct electronic, mechanical, or other
Written statements for these or sponsor and a person is not required technological collection techniques or
teleconferences should be received in to respond to a collection of information other forms of information technology,
the SAB Staff Office by the same unless it displays a currently valid OMB e.g., permitting electronic submission of
deadlines given above for requesting control number. responses. EPA will consider the
oral comments. Written statements DATES: Comments must be submitted on comments received and amend the ICR
should be supplied to the DFO via or before August 31, 2015. as appropriate. The final ICR package
email. It is the SAB Staff Office general ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, will then be submitted to OMB for
policy to post written comments on the referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– review and approval. At that time, EPA
Web page for the advisory meeting or OW–2011–0465, online using will issue another Federal Register
teleconference. Submitters are requested www.regulations.gov (our preferred notice to announce the submission of
to provide an unsigned version of each method), by email to ow-docket@ the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
document because the SAB Staff Office epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket submit additional comments to OMB.
does not publish documents with Abstract: Water quality standards are
Center, Environmental Protection
signatures on its Web sites. Members of provisions of state,1 tribal, and federal
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
the public should be aware that their law that consist of designated uses for
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
personal contact information, if waters of the United States, water
DC 20460.
included in any written comments, may EPA’s policy is that all comments quality criteria to protect the designated
be posted to the SAB Web site. received will be included in the public uses, and an antidegradation policy.
Copyrighted material will not be posted docket without change including any Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act
without explicit permission of the personal information provided, unless requires states and authorized tribes to
copyright holder. the comment includes profanity, threats, establish water quality standards, and to
Accessibility: For information on review and, if appropriate, revise their
information claimed to be Confidential
access or services for individuals with water quality standards once every three
Business Information (CBI) or other
disabilities, please contact Dr. Diana years. The Act also requires EPA to
information whose disclosure is
Wong at (202) 564–2049 or wong.diana- review and either approve or disapprove
restricted by statute.
the new or revised standards, and to
M@epa.gov. To request accommodation FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: promulgate replacement federal
of a disability, please contact Dr. Wong Tangela Cooper, Office of Water, Office standards if necessary. Section 118(c)(2)
preferably at least ten days prior to the of Science and Technology, Standards of the Act specifies additional water
teleconferences, to give EPA as much and Health Protection Division, (4305T), quality standards requirements for
time as possible to process your request. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 waters of the Great Lakes system.
Dated: June 24, 2015. Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, The Water Quality Standards
Thomas H. Brennan, DC 20460; telephone number: 202–566– regulation (40 CFR part 131 and
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board 0369; fax number: 202–566–0409; email portions of part 132) governs national
Staff Office. address: cooper.tangela@epa.gov. implementation of the water quality
[FR Doc. 2015–16197 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: standards program. The regulation
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
Supporting documents which explain in describes requirements and procedures
detail the information that the EPA will for states and authorized tribes to
be collecting are available in the public develop, review, and revise their water
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION docket for this ICR. The docket can be quality standards, and EPA procedures
AGENCY viewed online at www.regulations.gov for reviewing and approving the water
or in person at the EPA Docket Center, quality standards. The regulation
[EPA–HQ–OW–2011–0465; FRL–9930–00– WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 requires the development and
OW]
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, submission of information to EPA,
Proposed Information Collection DC. The telephone number for the including:
Request; Comment Request; Water Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For —The minimum elements in water
Quality Standards Regulation additional information about EPA’s quality standards that each state or
(Renewal) public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/ tribe must submit to EPA for review,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

dockets. including any new or revised water
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
Agency (EPA). the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments 1 The Clean Water Act defines the term ‘‘state’’ to

ACTION: Notice. and information to enable it to: (i) mean the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and
Evaluate whether the proposed specific territories including Guam, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection collection of information is necessary American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the
Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an for the proper performance of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices 37617

quality standards resulting from the Requests for the National Pollutant ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
jurisdiction’s triennial review (40 CFR Discharge Elimination System program. AGENCY
131.6 and 131.20). The elements Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: The [EPA–HQ–OPPT–2003–0004; FRL–9929–26]
include use designations for specific
water bodies; methods used and Water Quality Standards regulation
Access to Confidential Business
analyses conducted to support water requires reporting at least once every
Information by Vision Technologies,
quality standards revisions; three years from 96 jurisdictions: 56
Inc., and Its Identified Subcontractor,
supporting analysis for use states and territories, and Indian tribes
Computer Sciences Corporation
attainability analyses; water quality with EPA-approved standards (40 tribes
criteria sufficient to protect the as of May 2015). The respondents AGENCY: Environmental Protection
designated uses; methodologies for affected by this collection activity are in Agency (EPA).
site-specific criteria development; an North American Industry Classification ACTION: Notice.
antidegradation policy; certification System (NAICS) code 92411
by the jurisdiction’s Attorney General ‘‘Administration of Air and Water SUMMARY: EPA has authorized its
or other appropriate legal authority Resources and Solid Waste Management contractor, Vision Technologies, Inc., of
that the water quality standards were Programs,’’ formerly SIC code #9511. Glen Burnie, MD, and Computer
duly adopted pursuant to state or Additionally water dischargers subject Sciences Corporation (CSC) of Falls
tribal law; information that will aid to certain requirements related to the Church, VA, its identified subcontractor
EPA in determining the adequacy of WQS in the Great Lakes System include to access information which has been
the scientific basis for the standards; dischargers in the following NAICS submitted to EPA under all sections of
and information on general policies codes: Mining (except oil and gas) (212), the Toxic Substances Control Act
that may affect the implementation of Food manufacturing (311), Paper (TSCA). Some of the information may be
the standards. manufacturing (322), Chemical claimed or determined to be
manufacturing (325), Petroleum Confidential Business Information (CBI).
—Information that an Indian tribe must
refineries (32411), Primary metal DATES: Access to the confidential data
submit to EPA in order to determine
manufacturing (331), Fabricated metal will occur no sooner than July 8, 2015.
whether a tribe is qualified to
administer the water quality product manufacturing (332), FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
standards program (40 CFR 131.8). Machinery manufacturing (333), technical information contact: Scott
Computer and electronic product Sherlock, Environmental Assistance
—Information a state or tribe must manufacturing (334), Electrical Division (7408M), Office of Pollution
submit if it chooses to exercise a equipment, appliance, and component Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
dispute resolution mechanism for manufacturing (335), Transportation Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
disputes between states and tribes equipment manufacturing (336), Electric Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001;
over water quality standards on power generation, transmission, and telephone number: (202) 564–8257; fax
common water bodies (40 CFR 131.7). distribution (2211), and Sewage number: (202) 564–8251; email address:
—Information related to public treatment facilities (22132). sherlock.scott@epa.gov.
participation requirements during Respondent’s obligation to respond: For general information contact: The
state and tribal review and revision of Voluntary. TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 422
water quality standards (40 CFR Estimated number of potential South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY
131.20). States and tribes must hold respondents: 96 jurisdictions plus 2,323 14620; telephone number: (202) 554–
public hearings as part of their Great Lakes dischargers. 1404; email address: TSCA-Hotline@
triennial reviews, and make any Frequency of response: On occasion. epa.gov.
proposed standards and supporting Total estimated burden: 286,981
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
analyses available to the public before hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5
the hearing. CFR 1320.03(b). I. General Information
Total estimated cost: $13,359,089 (per
The regulation establishes specific A. Does this action apply to me?
year). There are no annualized capital or
additional requirements for water operation & maintenance costs. This action is directed to the public
quality standards and their Changes in Estimates: There is an in general. This action may, however, be
implementation in the waters of the increase of 10,000 hours in the total of interest to all who manufacture,
Great Lakes system, contained in the estimated respondent burden compared process, or distribute industrial
Water Quality Guidance for the Great with the ICR currently approved by chemicals. Since other entities may also
Lakes System (40 CFR part 132). This OMB. This increase reflects an increase be interested, the Agency has not
portion of the regulation includes the in the estimated number of respondents attempted to describe all the specific
following requirements for information to reflect EPA’s approval of water entities that may be affected by this
collection: Bioassay tests to support the quality standards for four additional action.
development of water quality criteria; tribes. These estimates could change
studies to identify and provide B. How can I get copies of this document
further if, for example, EPA approves and other related information?
information on antidegradation control water quality standards for additional
measures that will guard against the tribes, or if there are changes in the The docket for this action, identified
reduction of water quality in the Great burden related to expected NPDES by docket identification (ID) number
Lakes system; and information permit activities in the Great Lakes EPA–HQ–OPPT–2003–0004 is available
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

collection and record keeping activities basin covered by the ICR. at http://www.regulations.gov or at the
associated with analyses and reporting Office of Pollution Prevention and
to request regulatory relief from Dated: June 24, 2015.
Toxics Docket (OPPT Docket),
Guidance requirements. The Guidance Elizabeth Southerland, Environmental Protection Agency
includes additional information Director, Office of Science and Technology. Docket Center (EPA/DC), West William
collections that are addressed in [FR Doc. 2015–16234 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am] Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301
separate Information Collection BILLING CODE 6560–50–P Constitution Ave. NW., Washington,

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:19:11
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:19:11

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Comments must be submitted on or before August 31, 2015.
Contact		Tangela Cooper, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Standards and Health Protection Division, (4305T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-0369; fax
FR Citation		80 FR 37616